CBI wants Saini to be present for hearings

Saini and his counsel have been directed to respond to the application by June 1.

The notices were issued by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Poonam Chaudhary on the application filed by the prosecution (CBI),which demanded personal appearance of Saini in the court for “identification” by the witnesses. The application was filed after the Delhi High Court,on May 24,had ordered day-to-day hearing of the controversial Saini motor case. The Indian Express was the first to report on May 24 that the Delhi HC had directed the Special CBI Court to expedite the proceedings of the case and record statements of Amar Kaur,a 92-year-old widow,and her relative Meenakshi Jain on day-to-day basis.

On Wednesday,the court ordered that the cross-examination of Amar Kaur be conducted from July 1 to July 3,and that of Meenakshi from July 5 to 7.

“At this stage,the application has been moved on behalf of the prosecution,stating that at the time of examination of Amar Kaur and Meenakshi Jain and other witnesses,the presence of accused Sumedh Singh Saini is essential for his identification by the witnesses. Therefore,he may be directed to remain present from July 1 onwards,” the order reads.

The case has been hanging fire since 1994. Amar Kaur’s son,son-in-law and her driver were murdered,it has been alleged,in cold blood by Saini who hatched the controversy in connivance with co-accused Sukhmohinder Singh Sandhu,Paramjit Singh and Balbir Singh Tiwari.